> This code fails (and as a result, nothing works!)
>
> try
> {
> Class.forName("org.firebirdsql.jdbc.FBDriver");
> }
> catch(Exception e)
> {
> System.out.println("TEST");
> System.out.println(e.toString());
> }
>
>
> and I get the error (in BlueJ)
>
> TEST
> java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.firebirdsql.jdbc.FBDriver

Seems that your CLASSPATH entry is not correct. Ensure that you have
something like:

set CLASSPATH=%CLASSPATH%;D:\Paulie\Test1\jaybird-full-2.1.6.jar;.

or simply add the driver to your project settings in BlueJ.

> From the dos prompt I get
>
>
> D:\Paulie\Test1>java TestDB.class

If the current directory (".") is added to classpath, then you should use

java TestDB

(without .class at the end). Also ensure that you have set the FIREBIRD
environment variable:

set FIREBIRD=D:\Paulie\Test1

if you have unzipped the Firebird Embedded directly into D:\Paulie\Test1.

Also, if you will use Linux, there are appropriate shared libraries
(libjaybird21.so and libfbembed.so) also on that platform.

Roman